Newton County School System's Deputy Superintendent for Operations Dennis Carpenter has been named superintendent of the Hickman Mills C-1 School District in Kansas City, Mo.

Carpenter will begin his superintendency on July 1, 2013. He plans to continue with his duties with the NCSS until that time. His wife LaQuanda Carpenter, principal of Alcovy High School is currently on maternity leave, but also plans to finish out the year at AHS.

"It was very refreshing to find that the Hickman Mills C-1 School System did not give any value to issues that were not related to students and their learning during my interview process," Carpenter said.

"I'm excited [about the position] and I've been fortunate enough to hold various roles in the school system that I believe will help me in the job as superintendent."

Hickman Mills C-1 School District was the first consolidated school district in the state of Missouri, according to their website. There are roughly 6,200 students in the school district within 276 acres of building sites.

"The school system has its challenges, but I am certain we are going to meet those challenges and produce one of the most successful urban school systems in the state," said Carpenter.

In an email, NCSS Superintendent Gary Mathews, congratulated Carpenter on the position.

Carpenter has been with the NCSS since 2008. He was a finalist for the superintendency in Jackson, Miss., earlier this year, and has also been up for the same position in Peach County last year.